Associate Staff Writer, Sleep, NYT Wirecutter

Wirecutter is looking for an Associate Staff Writer to join our sleep team, which covers mattresses, white noise machines, sleep masks, weighted blankets, and more.

As an Associate Staff Writer, you will report directly to the Supervising Editor of the sleep team. You’ll conduct research and testing products to help maintain Wirecutter’s catalog of sleep product reviews. This could include testing sleep gear at home, like mattresses (we’ll keep yours safe in storage) or sunrise alarm clocks, or running in-office panel testing. You will work with other members of our team on testing and writing and with other teams across our newsroom to produce short-form articles and off-platform journalism about the products we review.

You will be a curious and creative researcher and writer. You will have a passion for finding unique and qualified sources and a healthy skepticism towards marketing claims. You will develop proficiency writing in Wirecutter’s standard guide format and explain your findings concisely. You’ll also have the opportunity to pitch and develop short-form content both within and outside of the sleep beat. This position is based in New York City in Wirecutter’s Long Island City office (with the flexibility to work from home).

Responsibilities:

Research, report, and write long-form guides and short-form stories on your beat
Collaborate with editors and other writers to create test plans, make pick recommendations, and move ideas from pitch to publish
Visit mattress stores, and attend trade shows and product news events as needed to build contacts and expertise in relevant topic areas
Work with the photo team in our Long Island City office to help manage photo shoots for your assigned guides
Work with our community team to respond to reader feedback and questions
Collaborate with our social, video and newsletters team to bring your reporting to life off-platform
Work with our affiliate team to resolve stock issues on recommendations
Work with our operations team on product orders and testing plans
Perform related work as assigned
Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

Basic Qualifications:

At least one year of experience reporting professionally or multiple years on the college level
At least one year of experience with product or service journalism
At least one year of experience sourcing expert opinions to inform reports

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience writing in-depth how-to guides
Experience covering products or services—especially involving hands-on or lab testing
Ability to seek out and source sound health advice on sleep, from peer-reviewed articles, medical doctors and other clinicians, and public health institutions.
An understanding of why one would feel a need to deeply research a purchase, and an ability to explain why one product is better than another in a natural, accessible, and detailed way
An inherent skepticism of marketing claims, and a commitment to NYT standards of reporting and accuracy

This position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.

REQ-018113

The annual base pay range for this role is between:

$67,626 - $74,000 USD